Flip. Remember it. Flip. Oh, gotcha. Gotcha. Thank y'all for coming out this afternoon. Um, I'm going to call the meeting to order. And Mr. Meas, can we have roll call, please? Please say present when I call your
name. Harvey Walden, present. Shane Barnes, present. Jason Compton, present. Andre Darnell, Debbie G, present. Glen G, present. James Johnson, present. Andrea Given Moore, present. And Marshall,
thank you, ma'am. Um, Mr. Barnes, will you please lead us on your vacation, please? Let us pray. Dear heavenly father, thank you for allowing us to gather today to discuss and vote on some very important things for our students of Jackson Madison County. Lord, thank you for the
beautiful day you've given us and hopefully everyone's health is good and good for them. But Lord, stay with us during the meeting and afterwards in your name. Amen. Mr. Johnson, will you please u our mission statement? Yes sir. Our mission statement is providing equitable options
and opportunities in a safe caring environment to maximize student potential. Thank you sir. If you stand for the pledge of le flag please. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the
republic for which it stands. One nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. This is time for public comments. I do want to say this first. Last meeting I didn't explain something and I should
have and I do apologize. We normally had three minute minutes a person to speak but we have a time limit of 30 minutes. When I sat down I saw 15 people it hit me two minutes a piece and I said I do apologize today we don't have that many. So we definitely have three minutes a
piece. Uh the first one is um Andre Temple I believe. Mr. Temple. Miss Temple. I'm so sorry. Mr. Chairman. Yes. Point of order. With our parliamentarian not here who is keeping up with time. Am I doing that? Yes, sir.
Thank you. Oh, here he is. Let's give him a chance to get settled. Okay. There's three minutes. Good afternoon to the superintendent and the school board members. Uh thank you so much for the opportunity to be before you uh in support of the Jackson Museum
School. My name is Andrea Temple. I am an IT project manager and proposed school board member for the Jackson Museum School. I believe that the school that we are proposing will be an asset to the community and district, offering a learning model that can address families seeking a different learning
style for their students. You've all read about the academic tools and programs we would like to add to the district in our application. In preparing for today's vote, we have one ask of you as well as the community. Make your decision on what
Jackson Museum School has shown you so far. Choose not based on the various charter school rhetoric or misinformation you may have heard, but on the merit of the positive behavioral learning model that is highly interactive with students and families that we seek to add to the
district. Ask yourselves which of the following components that we stand for that you are against. We support the excellent work of the superintendent and local school board and employees and only seek to add another learning model to work in tandem with our school
district to feed back in even better prepared students. Is that sub is that partnership something that you you oppose? We are open to students but target minority and economically disadvantaged students to improve their educational outcomes when blending with
other student populations. We are a majority minority board and that reflects a balance that we intend to have for our school as well. Although our proposed school leader is not African-American, she has devoted herself educationally to studying and
reaching minority communities or you or the organizations you represent against that. Our presence does not prevent ACE from coming to this area. Both can exist if the community and board accept and support both groups. One does not
exclude the other. Recent legislation with House Bill 1322 in conjunction with Senate Bill 1310 have recently passed in support of charter schools. If the museum school is turned down, it would be the second one in two years, leaving
uh open for future charter schools after the third. What will those future applicants represent when working with your district? Will they be as cooperative as the lo with the local district as we seek to be? We ask for your support. The community is hungry
for a new option and we would love to be your choice to provide that chance for students and families. Thank you so much. I believe the next will be um Victoria Ton. My name is Victoria Ton and I'm
representing the new Jackson Madison County Voters Council. I'll start out by saying that I think all of us have been looking for that magic bullet, that one thing that will improve public schools, particularly in Madison County. You also
know that we rely heavily on public education to transform our children from cradle to career and to transform our communities. And I appreciate all of the work that all of you do. My mind is
always on what is happening to the least of these. Children who live in poverty have such a limited view of themselves and the world. But their views are changing under this administration. Since Dr. King's arrival, the landscape
related to public education has changed drastically. Dr. King has a fantastic team and together they are building a school system that is first class. We all see it and we can't deny that everything around public education has
been elevated in Madison County under his leadership. So many innovative programs. I'm asking you board members to not give up on our children. Don't hand them over to someone else. Our youngsters are thriving now and our
systems reputation is something we can all be proud of. Now, there's an old adage in the African-American community where we talk about waiting on Superman. He ain't coming. He's not
coming. But we do have a very capable leader in Dr. King with an overload of wisdom and information best practices in education. Hear him as he lead. School
board members, you are a Jackson Madison County board member. You told us you were committed to public education and its students and we believed you and we voted for you. And I'm asking you to
stand in your commitment to public education and vote no on the resolution for the charter school. Thank you. The the next is Dr. Johnson. Good afternoon, superintendent, school board. I'm Dr. Delita Johnson. I am a
proposed board member for the Jackson Museum School. I don't have a long drawn out speech, but I am for this school because of its curriculum to add or to integrate an arts curriculum. Um, I work for the Jackson Arts Council. I'm the
executive director and that's important to me because our Jackson Artbox program will allow counselors to assist students to process their emotions. And so I would ask you to consider voting yes for
this proposal for the charter school. Um do not consider this competition. We appreciate I appreciate everything that you do. So, I've had three grown children to metriculate through Jackson Madison County School System. But I ask
that you vote yes. Consider this a collaboration and not a competition. Thank you. Thank you, ma'am. The next is Miss Shayla Godwin. Commissioner Sheila got one. Uh I'm not correcting you. I'm just
that's my introduction. That's right. Thank you. Uh I had the opportunity to serve on the charter review team uh in the last time that we reviewed applicant and I was appreciated of that serving with such
distinguished doctors and PhDs and educators. Um, I'm I'm really really really really I don't I I don't have a position other than I'm asking the board members to do what the right thing as
the charter review team. I I take they may make a recommendation and whatever recommendation they make I know by working with them they did it for the best for the children in our district. So, I guess my thing again to you, not
speaking long, is I'm asking you individually to do the right thing because I know some of you have been wanting a charter school. You know, that's what you want. But I'm just saying in the end, we have to put the kids first. And so, when
you vote, I'm asking you put the kids first and do the right thing because I believe in my heart that this uh child review team will make the best recommendation. And so I would follow suit. Thank you. That's all I have to say. And you only got I'm just
We all good. We're good. The next is Mr. Daniel uh Daniel Thornton, I believe. Deian Thornton. Hello, I'm Dion Thornton. Um, I was actually born and raised here in Jackson. I attended Jackson Mountain
County City Schools and I attended JCM, played basketball at JCM and Union University. Um, and I have served now as a financial analyst and I have deep roots in this community. I've given back to the community through mentoring children and
student athletes as well as at risk children. Um, and my role with the Jackson Museum School is uh I'm the prospective I'm sorry I'm a little nervous, but I'm the prospective uh treasurer and founding board member for for the school and helping to ensure a
stronger financial steward and community accountability as we build something truly special. Um, I focus on helping everybody, all the kids that I've worked with, um, since I've been here. I've been back in Jackson about 14 years.
I've coached, I've trained, I actually owned a business where I worked with student athletes and mentored them. So, I do work closely with the community. I'm sorry. Um, so my mission and values for my I am in line with the missions
for uh the Jackson Museum Museum School. And um anyway, I just sorry I'm just a little bit nervous. I don't like talking in front of people. I apologize. So I'm going to wrap it up very quickly. I'm just asking you respectfully as board as the board to recognize the
thoughtful work and commitment and vision behind this initiative and vote yes to authorize Jackson Museum school. Thank you. The next is Dr. Littleles. Good afternoon. Um, as we gather today for the authorization vote for the
Jackson Museum School, I'd like to clarify just what that vote is and is not based on some of the conversations and questions that have been presented to me in this last week. Today's vote is not whether or not public charter schools should exist in Jackson,
Tennessee. they're not even whether or not public charter schools should exist in the landscape of education. Um, unfortunately, that decision has already been made at the state level, and neither I nor Jackson Museum School got to vote on it. Um, so this vote is also
not about me personally or professionally. Nor is it a vote for or against Dr. King's strong leadership. Um, it is simply about whether or not Jackson Museum School's application meets the state standards for authorization. The state, as you know,
has tagged designated uh, if you will, that um, Jackson, Tennessee is going to receive some charter schools. Um, which means that they are on the horizon. And while that direction is beyond local control, this board does have the power
to ensure that those schools are high quality, community-based, community rooted and aligned with local values. So to that end, I want to thank the JMCSS boardappointed interview committee and that was including educational professionals, the assistant deputy
superintendent and four community members for their rigorous and objective evaluation of our nearly 300page application. and they did conduct a very thorough 90minute interview. Some would say we were grilled. I appreciate that.
We were okay with that. Um and as reported by Dr. Williams and the Jackson Sun, um the Jackson Museum school met or exceeded expectations in 13 out of 17 categories. We partially met in four and we had zero deficiencies. So therefore,
the committee unanimously recommended a yes vote to the board for authorization. So, we appreciate their due diligence. I also believe that this vote today is about local partnership. We've chosen to pursue a local authorization approach
and collaboration with JMCSS because we want to be part of Jackson's educational future, not apart from it. um that sends a strong signal not only to stakeholders that we can work together but also to the state that
says local boards can and should retain their local authorization powers um and together we can expand the opportunity and choices of Jackson students and families. So, as someone recently said to me, if we must have charter schools
in Jackson, let it be Jackson Museum School. So, thank you for your time and we respectfully ask for your vote of yes today. Thank you, ma'am. I believe our last and next is Mr. Harold Carter. Good evening to all of
you. The Good evening, sir. The NAACP for well over a decade has not supported any charter schools in the local school districts. The reason why is because you
as a representative body of our children here in Madison County need all the help that you can get. Going to the county commission meeting for your recognized budget, which you're going to vote on, I understand in a few minutes. We want all
of that and more. And I know there's things that perhaps was left out of it because perhaps you didn't think you're going to get as much as you wanted to request. This charter school concept is just a drop in the bucket. We might be certain that some of these other schools will come in, but apparently that's
beyond your control because what has happened at the state level is that some of your powers have been taken away from you. They have nullified our vote because what we voted for were you. You to make the decision about the direction of
education in this county. We understand the type of takeover that they're doing from afar. That's not right. We support public education. If something that we don't have, we want
you to request it and get it. That's the county body is to fund you for your request that you need. And I hope to see all of us there at your hearing to the county commission to make sure you get just
that. But these are trying times. Our public school system are stretched. But we have to build that capacity. We can do the same things that we're talking about here today, but you have to have the resources to do it. If that's what it takes, then that's what we support from a public school
standpoint. and we appreciate your work and we want to help you as much as we possibly can. We appreciate it. Thank you. Thank you, sir. Thank you so much for the public comments. Uh that means a whole lot. We definitely want to hear from the community as much we possibly can. Uh
we're moving on to action items. Uh Dr. King is going to go over our FY25 budget amendments and budget amendments are coming up on the screen. And board members, you all should have copies
um of the proposal of the budget year and budget amendments. Dr. Watkins, do you have copies of the Do you have the copies? Yes, sir. For board members on the pink tab in your green folder. All right. Pink tab in your I'm going to
give some context and then I'll give u give it back over to Dr. Watkins so she can kind of go through uh some numbers. Okay. So the revenue that and we discussed this at budget committee but there's some things that some modifications that we've made. Uh the revenue again is revenue that we're
getting from fast growth and student outcomes that we haven't budgeted. And so fast growth is because of the enrollment numbers are increasing and student outcomes uh because our students performed in grades 3, eight and in high
school in certain areas. So that money was sitting in revenue that we are using to budget but also we're going to use some money from fund balance uh like a million and three if you look at B uh under 3900 and the
narrative. One thing to note is that we have four fast growth payments and the fourth payment has not been submitted to the district. Um we did get a project we did get an estimate the other day but it has not been
submitted. So essentially since we don't have that we will go into fund balance um to offset that. So, I think it's important to note that to balance and to complete our year-end amendments, we're going to go into fund balance really
like at $600,000. If that makes sense, you all because the 776 will go back once uh that revenue hits our account from the state department. When you look at the other obligated revenues, special education, prek grant,
and also education capital, I talked about the education capital was insurance recovery from um one of our buses um was total. If we move to the expenditure section of the narrative,
um LIT in parentheses beside the category is line item transfer. So, we're just transferring within that page. If you don't see that outside of that, that means that we're going into other on other categories to uh offset um some of the line
items. This summary did not change much. So um the summary is therefore for those expenditures that are listed from A to N. The summary that did change you all
is the fund balance. Let me share something with you all on the fund balance and it's on page two on that fund balance number changed from our budget committee to um include
uh additional funds for and and it's at the bottom for a north side gym roof that was in the budget last year and we just did not get that project done and so we're just getting quotes on that but those has already been taken care of and we need finish that out this year. But
that's just north side roof and you'll see Dr. Watkins will go over that number of how much that that will be. So on B um the north side roof roof right there and that's the only change there
on my my category um for director of school. It's a change there. we had to move we have to shuffle some things around on uh that page and I'll tell you I shared with you all about moving other fringes uh to the bonus but
also the endowment payment was not included so we're putting the endowment payment that goes to the community foundation for the arts is budgeted at 5,000 and then because I don't get a vacation my vacation payout not let me re restate that there is a vacation in
my contract I don't get a chance to take a vacation and so in the contract the board pays me out for the days that I don't go on vacation. So that has to be accounted in there as well. So that's that's the only adjustment u there and that's pretty much it. So what
I'll do if you all don't have any questions about the narrative then I'm going to give it to Dr. Watkins. So questions about the narrative before I give it over to Dr. Watkins to go over the numbers. Mr. Mr. Chairman. Yes, sir. Dr. King, I missed what you said about
North Side. There was a change regarding North Side. Okay. I couldn't find where it was located. Go to B at the top. Go to page two. Is it page two? Okay. Look at the top of page two and B account 3900. Fund balance. That fund balance
number. If you look at your fund balance number from the last time, that number increased by how much, Dr. Watkins? 45,000. $45,000. Uh, and so we have, is it the gym? I think it's the gym roof at North Side that was supposed it's
passed. It was supposed to be done last year. It's just one of those things that slip through the crack and I want to go ahead and take care of it in this uh budget cycle. Thank you. Dr. Watkins, could you go over the the ledger part of it?
So, we have fund 1417100 regular instruction and this is a budget amendment needed for end of the year close out. Um, there's no change toe or no change to fund balance. The
amount of the amendment is in the total of $941,900. This is not a grant and this is a budget amendment. In 41100 special education program 71200, we have a budget amendment needed
for the end of the year close out. No change toe or fund balance. The total of this budget amendment is $633,875. It is not it is not inclusive of grant and it is a budget
amendment. Our next one is for debt services 41182330. This budget amendment is for end of year close out. There's no change toe but there is a pull on fund balance. This is not any additional grant money
and this is a budget amendment. Next one 141 vocational education program 71300. This is a budget amendment needed for end ofear closeout. No change toe or
fund balance. The total is $793,500. This is not inclusive of any grant monies and there this is a budget amendment. Our next one is for attendance. This budget amendment is needed for the end of the year close
out. There's no change to or fund balance. Our total is $54,350. This is not inclusive of any grant funds and this is an amendment. Our next one is
14172120 health services health services uh department. This is a line item transfer needed for end of the year closeout. The total is $18,690. This is not inclusive of any grant money and this is a line item
transpire. Next we have 141 other student support 72130. This is a budget amendment needed for end of the year close out. No change to MOE or fund balance. The total of
this amendment is 1,92,851. This is not inclusive of grant funding and this is a budget amendment. Our next one is 14172210 regular instruction programs. This is a budget amendment needed for the end of the year close
out. No change to MOE or fund balance. The total of this amendment is $429,200. This is not inclusive of grant funds and this is a budget amendment. 141 722 220 special education programs.
This is a line item transfer needed for end of the year close out. The amount is $10,700. This is not inclusive of any grant funding and this is a line item transfer
14172230 vocational vocational education program. Again a line item transfer needed for the end of the year closeout. The total amount is $230. This is not inclusive of grant funding and this is a line item
transfer. We have technology 1412250. This is a budget amendment needed for the end of the year close out. There is no change toe or fund balance. The total of this
budget amendment is $235,500. This is not inclusive of grant funding and this is a budget amendment 14172320 director of schools line item transfer for end of the year closeout. The total line item transfer is
$64,100. No grant money included in this and this is a line item transfer. 4172410 is office of the principal. This is a budget amendment needed for the end of the year close out. No change toe but
there is a pull on fund balance. The total of this amendment is $694,600. This is not inclusive of grant funds and this is a budget amendment. Human capital
14172520 budget amendment needed for the end of the year close out. No change toe or fund balance. The total amount of this amendment is $48,000. This is not inclusive of grant funding and it is a budget
amendment. 14172610 operation of plant. This is a budget amendment needed for end of the year. close out. There is no change toe or fund balance and the total of
this amendment is $7,52641 141 72620 maintenance of plant nine item transfer needed for the end of the year close out in total of $3,910 no additional grant funing And
this is the line item transfer 14173300 community services. This is a line item transfer needed for end of the year close out. The total amount of this line item transfer is
$22,690. This is not inclusive of grant funding and it is a line item transfer. 14171200 72220 state special education preschool grant. This is a
budget amendment needed for the end of the year close out. There is no change toe or fund balance. This is a budget amendment and this is grant monies 141 capital outlay
76100. This is the budget amendment needed for the roof at Northside High School. There's no change toe, but there is a pool on fund balance. The totality of this amendment is $45,000.
No grant money involved and it is a budget amendment. Next we have IDA BCC EIS 9051 142 revision. This is a revision needed to close out the end of the year.
Um there is no change tooue I'm sorry or fund balance. The total of this is $64,5723. And this is just a line item transfer. Finally, we are in 143 school
nutrition and these are all line item transfers that's needed for the end of the year close out. There is no change toe or the 143 fund balance and educational capital projects
177 91300. We're moving revenue to this expense line so that it can be utilized for the purchase of a new bus. The total of this movement is 1,140,434. This is not inclusive of
grant and it is a budget amendment. Any questions concerning any of those budget amendments? Thank you, ma'am. Is there any questions? Mr. Chairman, I just uh will say that
you know uh Mr. Golf and myself being a part of the budget committee and and honestly when you look at a $150 million budget that uh the state says we have to have turned in every year to the county by May one that budget isn't done
overnight. That budget starts in February. And for a school district of this size and this budget to be working on a budget to have to be turned in in February and then when uh Miss when Dr. Watkins goes through our our year-end cleanup and the only thing that we have
to do is pull $600,000 off a fund balance and in a year in a time period like we live in right now in this year with the inflationary issues that we've where things daytoday we have no idea how much something is going to cost and
we are pulling $600,000 off of our very healthy fund balance in a time period. Uh I I just want to thank Dr. Watkins, Kelly, and all the administration for the hard work that they do to make sure that we're not just pulling off fund balance to full pull off fund balance.
They're finding other lines to be able to pull this do those dollars from, which is going to allow us when we talk about FY26 budget to be able to do a lot of things that we want to do and are not going to have to get cut out because we didn't manage our money correctly. So, I
I applaud our administration, Dr. King and uh our finance staff on doing a wonderful job. Yes, sir. And I'll make a motion to approve these year-end uh budget amendments. I have a second. All in favor say I. I. All oppose say
nay. Motion passes. The next on our agenda is approval of FY26 annual budget 14142 143 and 177. Okay. Okay. If you pull pull the um Excel document as well as the
narrative, we will go back and forth like Dr. Watkins and I have been doing for the last several months. Um but before I go over this, I it's a pretty good budget and I think you're all going to be very uh excited
about the budget and and the exciting part is you all created this budget. We just put it together. uh through our board retreat, uh through you all making budget requests in our board bulletin. Uh and so I appreciate the board for
being very intentional about what we want to do uh moving forward this this school year. I want to give special thanks to the budget committee uh board member Compton and board member G for taking time off work uh to attend our
budget hearings. This year we did something a little differently. We instead of bringing principles to us, we traveled to the schools until the flood came and there was a flood and we had to stop and and get all of the information in sooner because we were we had gotten
off the timeline. But we had an opportunity you all to go into buildings and actually see some of the requests. really, you know, resonated with us to say, "Yeah, it's one thing when you tell us, but it's a different thing when they
go show it to you and say, "This is what we are experiencing." So, I really appreciate you all for joining us. Uh, felt like y'all on staff. We're working really, really hard. So, uh, I appreciate, uh, all the feedback and all the support you gave us. The executive team, thank you all for staying in that
room. I think the last people at 6 6:30. Melissa was Melissa was out of it. She said this it is it time for us to go. So we were we were we have been really we have really been doing it. So I really appreciate the team and and and lastly I
have to always you know I might be going into year 30 and you know you get old and rusty in this work but like I always tell the team that and and Dr. Watkins knows this I am still Mr. Miyagi and so I am the teacher. So Dr. Watkins and I
have gone back and forth over this budget, but the thing is I taught her how to do the budget and so she bringing old stuff back on me saying, "No, we can't do that and we can't do this." And I'm like, "Oh, okay." So, it's been good. I mean, we one night you all, I promise you, it was 11:30 cuz I was out
of it and we couldn't find some money. She thought it was in a call center. So, I said, "I don't know, but it's there." And I know it's there. And she said it wasn't there. I said, "It's there." So, but I'm going to sleep, but you need to find it. She texts me at one o'clock, I found it. So, so I really appreciate all the hard
work that you've put in this uh this this budget and and going back. So, let's let's talk about the budget and what the exciting stuff that we're going to see in our budget this year. So, of course, you know, we have those four areas, general purpose, federal
nutrition, and then we'll talk about education capital for revenue. uh when you look at revenue uh that's coming in, we budgeted and we thought about you all. Our greatest investment is personnel. So, we're going to really talk about how we invested in personnel this year moving forward. Uh academic
and operational investments. Uh our strategic plan. Uh we will go over some activities in that as well. Capital, I just gave you all a new capital sheet that we will talk about. And then school level and department allocations.
So revenue for us you all we are if you look at the revenue and you look at page two you can see where last year our ma our uh state funding was at $76 million and because of our increase in
enrollment we are at $89 million wow uh and students is still coming and school is almost over uh so I think we'll see another jump in our enrollment next year but we have jumped uh tremendously and So you can see the difference or you can see the plus
rather uh where we are in terms of from FY25 to FY26. Maintenance of effort is the 48 million that we continue to get from the county. Keep in mind as you look at the chart above the
county's capacity would actually be now um 39 million for FY26. However, they fund us at 48 million. So, that's important to note. And one of the things they they have told us was that they want to make certain that we continue to
support preK classrooms. PreK is not fully funded through our general through the state. And so, we have a majority, we have more prek classes than we are funded by the state. And so, when you look at the gap between 39 million and
the 48, that's preK. So the m so for miscellaneous funding this in the budget you are going to see on this Excel document if you look at the document the revenue and you look at the first page the column go down almost
to the end it's the last budgeted revenue you're going to see $500,000 in contribution and gifts. Okay, last column, first page, right under the 2 million. That $500,000 you all will be money that we'll be requesting from the
education foundation. With that, you're going to see the three items. There's a work team for education foundation. They submitted three activities or three or four activities that I'm going to share with you all in there. And I need to make a modification. I had a conversation earlier today and I'm going to make a an
addition to education foundation. And remember me to mention Lifewise in the Education Foundation funding also, and it's it's a $3,000 uh note on that. So, the next bucket of funds outside of
the TISA money and our money that we receive from the county will be $3 million that we're budgeting. And it is on page, it is on the second page. Look on page 61. Look at the very bottom. So
you see $3 million, but you also see $255,000. The $255,000, y'all, is indirect cost that we're going to pull off federal grants. And so we just lump that in because it's all going to come from transfer funds. The 3 million would be funds that we have given on general
purpose to federal program for reimbursement purposes. Okay. So, we we want to put that in the to account for that in the budget. On the first page, you'll see the $2 million that is the sale of this
property uh to the county for the new central office. That was in FY25, but we have not done our final closing and we should be doing closing. I know we'll be doing closing
is in the FY26 cycle. So I I think it's important when we go through here, you're going to see some line items that have been significantly cut down. That's because we are using federal programs 142 to offset some
items that were in ESSER. So these are basically supplementals. So, let me explain that. If we had gone and placed these items back in the 141
budget, then we wouldn't have been able to use federal programs in the future for those items because that will be supplanting because we're supplementing. We're going straight to 142 and we're cutting the budget on the 141 side. I
think in the heat maps that we see in our finance, we see blue all the time and blue means that we way way over. I don't think we are maximizing the dollars on our federal program side. So that's what we will uh so for instance and that is in the last line
you can see for instance the phonics reading program is is at $860,000 that would have come on 141 side but because it's a supplemental we're going straight to 142. So they'll be pulled out of 142. So let's talk about employee
investment. Uh the buck of our budget, the buck of the money we spend is on employees. Um if you look down, you know, we our retention rate for certificated staff is at 90.6%.
Um and for our classified staff, 87. I truly believe that is when we invest in our employees uh we can keep them but the investment has has to be I think it has to be diverse. It has to be a a
variety of things. Compensation is always important. Um and so when you look at where we started in 2020 we're our beginning salary was $37,000. Next year a beginning teacher FY26 will be starting at $51,000.
And so that's the jump we've made from 20 FY20 to FY26. This board has made the investment saying that we want to have high quality teachers. And so when you look at our retention rate, we're able to retain but also we're able to if
you're retaining that means you have high quality teachers. So we're not a system when you say we have a lot of permitted teachers. We do have permitted teachers, but I I guarantee you as we continue to invest, that's going to reduce because you're going to pick up people who going to want to join because
of the investment. Let's look what else. Let's just kind of break this down for investment for personnel. The raise is going to go up what 7.2% for step zero through three. Um step four through seven, 7%. Step 8 through 11 6%. Step 12
15 5%. And step 16 through 20 is 3%. Remember the board we our goal is up to 25 years. So we're moving up a year every year. We wanted to put a higher percent on the last year because of
being able to retain our uh seasoned teachers. They bring strong background in the work. Uh but also when you think about retirement, you know, you don't want to have them at low percentage just in terms of um salaries. So at step 21,
those at step 21 and even beyond. So you you've been working 27 years, you'll still get the step 21. This board made a true investment in employees because you all we used to stop at step
15 and so we've increased the lane and move the steps up and our goal is to get to step 25 and who knows we might go to 30 at some point but right now we're going stop at 25. Okay, that so you can kind of see the
total uh compensation increase funds that from 141 and 142 uh benefits in there and kind of the total increase. I think it's important to note that the education scholarship bonus that's coming out of the governor's
office uh for education scholarship will be rewarding teachers for $2,000. But the the kicker here is we the individual will have to be identified as a full-time teacher of
students, a teacher of record. And so this bonus will not be given to every teacher in the district, but it will be given to every teacher as a teacher of record for students in our in our district. We are not budgeting that in
this budget. We're going to pull this from fund balance. The state will reimburse us. We pay this out. We pull from fund balance. The state will reimburse us. And we we'll do it that way. We didn't think it was the right. We didn't feel comfortable putting this in the 141 budget. So, we will be back for a budget
amendment to take that uh principal increases. Uh our educational assistance. um the wages are going to go up um uh 50 cent and I uh increase our secretaries. You're going to see the
increase there. I think the only change we made here other than what I presented the other day is bus attendance and bus substitutes went up to a dollar. they have not received um an increase significant increase in if you look on
page seven you'll see transportation and transportation says bus attendant substitute one hour $1 an hour wage for those and in and the hourly staff that's supposed to be erased yeah scratch through that
okay scratch through the hourly staff is right you'll still have some power in the staff. Who would they be? Mechanics. Mechanics. Yeah. Yeah. That's right. That's right. Mechanics and who else?
CDL specialist routers. It's several. So this year our investment is $5.8 $8 million you all and our employees because we're saying, "Hey, look, we appreciate what you do. We want to show you uh in this budget, but let's let's show some other things that we're going
to do in this budget." And now this is new right here. And so this was not presented at our budget committee meeting. So for the differentiated pay plan, listen to the board members and hearing you all your conviction around like turn around, hard to staff, and things like that. This is what we we
plan. And so of course every district has to have a differentiated pay plan. So this is the new plan. U our bonus type. We're going to have a signing recruitment bonus and retention bonus for our these teachers in this category right here. Our special education classroom teachers inclusion and
intervention will receive $5,000 and our yes in CBL teachers will receive $10,000. speech teachers and speech pathologists will will also receive uh a
$5,000 um bonus as well as high school math and middle school math. The key there is you must be endorsed and so it will not be a permanent math but it be an endorsed math teacher. The next one is hard to staff fully certified endorsed
teacher. If you want to teach in a hardto staff school, you can receive a $10,000 bonus if you are a level three, four, or five internally and out. So what that
means, we'll open the portal back up those teachers within the district if they want to transfer to these schools that are listed, Alexander Lincoln, Isaac Lane, JCM Middle, JCM High, and JCT. Hard to staff schools. Your recruitment is
$10,000. Your commitment is when you get the 10,000, you have to stay there for three years. So you can't get 10,000 and leave after one year. But so we talked more and the team said, you know, if we give someone
10,000 for coming, what about the people that have been staying? So we're going to give the people staying. If you're level three, you get 3,000. four 4,000 five 5,000.
So that's on hard to staff. And then we also going to give performance bonuses. And remember the performance bonus will be for tested teachers only. Level four and level five will receive 71,000. Again, additional investment. So
when you begin to add this to the increase that you're going to already get, we're really moving in being able to retain and attract high quality additional investments. We will take on the insurance premium increase. Last
year it was like a 6% increase. U you know being a teacher and getting a raise and getting a raise to go towards insurance was not like getting a raise. So what we wanted to do was make sure that when we gave raises, teachers and
employees saw the raise. So we'll be taking on the insurance premium increase. We will continue longevity um each year an additional $100 for the years you serve us up to 20 years. So if
you serve 25 years, you'll get $2,000. We care initiative. we are going to continue u with our weare initiative and I didn't think that it it was going to I didn't think that
um the attendance was going to have an impact but it really did and for new board members I don't think I went over we care with you all and you all I got to get you all signed up for weekare so you all can participate in the week initiative are you signed up okay well good okay so the weekare you all the
data on weekare I think it's right here. You all want to look at this data that I put up for weekare the data for week on the and I didn't have it in your in your pack but
uh if it's here this is one participation from last year all to this year um increased but we have a really strong start at in in the first period period and
then we kind of drop off. But look at what happened from the year we implemented this and then the next year in terms of our participation rate and our goal is we want we want whole employees. We want them to be whole and
healthy. And so that is the the the crux behind this initiative. So that's the participation rate. But there we have data on uh that that I'll just email it to you all. I meant to have it to be able to show it to you all because I think it's important so you all can see
the numbers uh and I'll show you all in the budget where we move this to one it line item so we can kind of gauge that and determine if this is something that we want to continue to do or if this is something we want to move over to another funding source u so that we care
is still a part of the proposal for uh this year additional weare steps uh we're going going to do a give me a break day. Um, you know, one thing you can't do is give people time back. Uh,
so in our discussion for budget committee, we were all okay with every employee get a give me a break day. Meaning that, hey, look, give me a break. I'm I'm tired and I want this day off and you take off and you go and you enjoy. But if you don't take off that year, you get paid for that day. And so,
but that day will not be like a a sick day or or the days that they traditionally get that will roll over. You would have to use that day or get paid out for that day. I've covered a lot of ground. Are there any questions before I continue to
go? So, let's look at major categories in the Excel document. I got some categories that I want you all to look at. And if you will go to page 62. You're going to see elementary and secondary 71 100. If you if you look at 140 salaries
and supplements, you're going to see that jump at 1.2 million. Look at the last column, you'll see where it was 1.2. And I don't have this documented. It's in my email. This is my this document of my email is because I could pull it up on the
screen. Uh so you see that 1.2. So look at 140 the very first 7100 elementary and secondary. It's on page 62 at the top. If you find page 62 in the Excel document under 141. Okay. You got you
got it. You got it. Okay. All right. That jump you all um that is for athletics, arts and academics. Okay. We are expanding sports but also I want to make sure we include
the band directors. We include all these people who are doing these additional responsibilities outside of the classroom to get um a stipen also. So that number jumped. Now, we don't have the proposal for the the amounts. I'm
sending that back to the committees to the budget. I'm send it back to athletics and you all just send that back. But we we already have that budgeted in there and feel good that we should come in at or under that number
considering green power, robotics, and any any additional because we'll probably have some more additional things come on. any additional uh clubs or things that we're doing, we're pulling it from there. The next one is homebound teachers. Because of the
increase in population, we uh increased that line uh for homebound services. We we had an uptick this year in homebound services. So, we wanted to make sure that we had enough for that. If you look at bonus payment,
um the bonus payment is for and you all see that the bonus payment jump. Okay, that's the differentiated pay that we just got through talking about performance and differentiated and uh maybe hard to staff in there as well. Dr. B, is that some hard to staff or is
that gonna be all on tag? It's some hard staff. Some hard to staff. Okay. Look at tuition you all. Tuition is 356 in the same category. We jumped up to 95,000 and I think for AP and dual
enrollment increase. We have more students doing dual enrollment in AP that we pay for the tuition. So we had to increase that line. 712. Any questions on 71100? Anything that jumps out that 72 71200 special education programs. The
the thing that probably would jump out most here would be educational assistance. You're going to see a jump there. And that's um that's because of uh some of our educational assistants, if I'm not mistaken, Dr. Watkins, and you correct me if I'm No, no.
educational assistants getting an increase who are in our CBL classrooms and our YES classroom. So they get a they get an additional um bonus as well and I think they are paid out semester each semester that they're paid out. So
that jump is there. If we look at 71300 is vocational education program you'll see instruction equipment that is our enterprises at each high school and that is in the strategic plan. Um so we're going to
fund that uh there in vocation education program. If we look at the next category, attendance. Now this will jump out at you. Look at other contracted
services under attendance. So it's 165. That's right, Dr. Watkins. 165 instead of you 300 down. Are you part of the city? Okay. All right.
So if you look at the other contracted services and then you look at software was 140 this used to be paid out of esser this is not a supplemental so we had to bring back so
this is power school mastery connect is the benchmark that we use to benchmark often or periodically to see where our students are. We did not have that before the pandemic. We purchased it during the pandemic, but we couldn't use
it as a supplemental. So, it comes out of attendance. It's in our assessment department. Does that make sense? 72 72120 health services. What's going to stand out
there would be um the bonus payment. You see, it wasn't budget. I mean the budget back in 2023 2024 was 19,000 is 929 that is we care we care used to be in esser but now it's on
141 and and I think it's been paying out Dr. Spike what 800 and something 800 Dr. So I can we kept it paid out right at 800. So uh right at nine. Okay. So we uh budgeted that and so and and that's the line that I was
sharing with you all that I want to see one number versus this used to be in bonus payment. And so in bonus payment there are multi multiple categories throughout this budget. And so it's hard to extract that to find out how much we were paying out unless we through the
loan process. right here we'll have a indication of how much we're spending on we care in that particular line item. Um also we'll have an additional nurse in there and and and we can cover that additional nurse and medical personnel under
72120. We don't have a nurse for Park View and Melissas. So that person will be over those two sites, Park Vistas, and that will have all schools will still be covered with a nurse.
Um, other contracted services, other contracted services, if you notice in this one, it jumped up to 60,000. And and and I'll share something with you. If you look at the line right beside that 60,000, that's where we are
as of February 28th. So, we're budgeting based on February estimates in expenditures and we're ba budgeting on March revenue. So, this is why we probably have to come back at the end uh to do budget amendments because of these
numbers right here. That $60,000 there would be the the health clinic at JCT. The health clinic was paid out of ESSER uh for JCT and so we had to bring it
back over to us and that's where we're putting it in other contracts with West Tennessee Healthcare 72130 is other student support. The big thing in there um you'll see increase in the supervisor and director line. That's
the two positions the board approved for Hub City Central. So if you see right out the side, I got an explanation in the proposal that you all and what I'm telling you all is in the proposal as well. So you'll see two FTEEs in um in other contracted services there
also other charges. Um we decided that we would let uh Greg and Jason have some money for athletics. So, we created a cost center and we gave them $50,000 right now to see what they going how they going to manage that because they
tend to go over everybody's page and in spend stuff. So, we going they have their own call center. So, let's see what happens there. So, y'all keep your eye on that one. 72210 regular instruction. We have one FT one FTE. And so let let me tell you about the
FTE4 72 210 regular instruction. Okay. It's in instruction. Y'all see that? Instructional personnel and last year it was budgeted and then coaches go to one two three
four. Go to number four 138 72 210 138. Okay. So on the technology page these personnel individual were were coming out of technology which was taking technology way over these individual
used to come out of different different categories because technology could support these different areas so we could use money for those areas. This is one of those positions that's coming off of the technology going into this line out. And when you see technology page, you it it will explain a lot of
this. If now we're going to techn well inservice and staff development on that page, let's look at inservice and staff development. Did it go down? Okay, you all see what happened there. In service and staff development, we 60 and we're as of February, we're at $271,000.
Um, but we're budgeting at 60 because the we're going to 142 versus going straight to 141. So, we took that down because we knew that we can do professional development out of federal programs. Okay. Technology, the only thing is other
contracted services. We have Matt Preston in there at $28,000 and that is 72 250. 72250 28,000 for M present. Um in the office of the superintendent we just
corrected the budget amendment we just made. So we put the endowment and vacation within the other salaries vacation payout or endowment but I plan to take a vacation in
26. I I I really do look at fiscal you all 72510 other contracted services you're going to see what is it three two in fiscal
services 72510 well and I and I skipped let me let me go back to board of education board of education page pretty much is nothing that stands out anything differently it's the same thing no no increases Um, officers of superintendent I just
shared with you all. Office of the principal, nothing stands out. They're pretty much consistent. Personnel, HR, nothing is different or stands out there. Dr. Watson, did we budget for
those students? uh those students that are part of your strategic plan that you recruit from the colleges to work in in in our high priority schools for tutoring. How much was that? Like 20 It's like 20,000.
Yeah, 20,000 was and what we're going to do uh talk about your initiative for those students. Okay. So um as a effort to recruit teachers into our district, we want to make sure that we get those persons in
the educational prep programs. So, we are going to partner with our local colleges and universities in our local area so that we can offer somewhat of a
paid student teaching experience versus just a totally free student teaching experience in hoping in hopes that people will select Jackson Madison County Schools to perform their
student teaching in and once you get into our school system and you see how wonderful our schools are, how great our kids are, you will stay and remain a permanent employee in the school system. So, this is kind of a different way of
attracting student teachers to come in. And if a program may not have anyone that's ready to student teach in this upcoming year, we can use those persons for tutorial services as
well. Operations of plant 72610 that the supervisor line is the line that will stand out the most. And that's because when we journal Dr. Catlet, Dr. Williams, several secretaries, a lot of stuff we had on
the superintendent page. We pulled that off and put them in the right category. So that is Dr. Khaled and uh Chief Bridgeman in that category. The reason it looks like that if you go to the clerical, it wasn't anything. So
clerical is 162 70 same category and you see 162 that used to be on my page, but it was actually the secretary for operations. And so we just stick it off my page and put it on the correct page. Uh we
have other salaries custo our supervisor for our custodia. We brought our custodial staff in house and that's where uh Mr. Dodd is who runs our c our in-house uh custodians. The other contracting
services is for lawn and floors. Um, I've been Dr. Khaled is is is making my dream come true. I'm old school and I just believe that your floors are supposed to be done when you come in on
the first day as a teacher and come back after Christmas. If you didn't look forward to anything else, you look forward to have some shiny floors in the classroom. Now, the kids messed them up in three days, but you just still felt like you were a teacher when you got, you know, you don't have you're not teaching until you have your good, clean, shiny floor in the classroom. Uh
so that contract services for forests for other contracted services 72620 uh is maintenance of plant. Yes sir. Before you u before you move on uh from 7216 under u that category which is are
we still in 72610? Right. Right. Okay. Um line item four 415 and electricity and utilities. Right. Right. Right. Um I see the previous budget from last year and our
budget for this year. Uh I want to make sure we took in consideration the fact that we are opening up uh New Poke and also the um the stadium if that's included in u the calculation. Yeah. Yes sir. So as of February we we were at
1.7 and so we have March, April, May, June, we have four more months um with U 8 million. Well, we'll spend how much more y'all think we'll spend a month and
I don't have my month. Most of that, of course, the early month, uh, you said March, March is probably then June, you know, we won't use as much because kids won't be in school. And we're and we're not having school at all. We're not having summer school at all schools. We're going to have certain locations because
we want to get these floors done. about 300,000. About 300,000 a month. Okay. Yeah. On average. On average. Okay. I just want to make sure that we took that in consideration. Uh which a large school. Um of course the old school also will be online especially for
electricity. Okay. And the proposed a new stadium also. So okay. Yeah. Watch that then tell these people the lights on these buildings at night too by the lights on. I want to go and turn them
off so bad, but I'm gonna get with the principles and check it. Um, so let's go. Anything else you all before I go to 7262 620 maintenance of plant 72260 maintenance of plant uh
administration equipment. Uh that's for vehicles for the lease purchase of vehicles for uh central office. We don't our vehicles are just gone. So then we have early childhood
73400 teacher. So if you look at teachers for early childhood that let me tell you what page that's I didn't have anything that stood out you all for transportation uh because that'll be in a different budget that'll be in 177 and community
services. Nothing stood out there. So, we went to early childhood and we had to budget for POPE addition. I think we have two or three additional preK teachers and assistants and we have to outfit some classrooms because we don't
get fund funds for POP from the state. And so, you're going to look at instructional supplies and material. We are thinking that number might be okay, but we might have to go up, but we have money within that page. Uh Dr. Spike um um budgeted and made
sure that we have u we're we're teaching reading in prek in prek next year. Well, we started our reading. Dr. Spike, the program is you put it in front of me just a little while ago. What is the name of program? Oh, here it is. Right here is our foundational skills uh for
our uh prek. One of the things we wanted to push is if we invest early early you all we can really I think put this intervention in place that will stop a lot of some of the gaps that we see when
students get older. So we really want to put our investment often times in public education you start putting your investment on the latter part 9 through 12. Well 9 through 12 are who they're going to be. I live with one right now. One lives with me and so they tend to be who they want to be. And so, you know,
you can't hardly tell them anything at the nine through 12, but at least we can catch them at the prek and begin to really while they're sponges soak up. But what I wanted to do, and I think I sent the board an email months ago about we got to start teaching reading in pre- kindergarten. If we catch them, you all start teaching reading in pre-
kindergarten and making certain that we by the time they get to third grade that they're solid, we we would know that there's definitely two ways. There's one, there's a way, and then there's a JMCSS way. Two ways. Now, there's a way,
but there's also a JMCSS way. So, that's in early childhood. I appreciate Dr. Spike for her Dr. King on under the early childhood on line item 116 16 which is 6450 73400. Which one? You want 73400? Yeah.
Under Yeah. 73400. Early childhood education on line item 116 6450. uh teachers and I think you mentioned that we're adding uh additional operational budget for additional teachers for uh Pope right correct uh in
the original original uh update that you sent out that um number was a million80 and it's changed to a million one. So is that one of the line items
that dollars have uh been coming out of uh um 142 or did we spread it some other way? So you said a million8 the the original budget you sent out to us email is a uh the line item for 2025.
Okay. 2026 was a million80. Okay. And on this report here it's a million one. Right. So that's an increase. Right. No, on this line on the new one, it's a decrease. A million8 was a million million80
and this one's a million uh a mean 890,000 million. Okay. 890,000. This is a million100,000. 89,000. So, was that uh I don't know if it's one of those nine items that um federal programs we spread dollars or um Dr. Watkins, you
want to let me Yes, sir. So if if you look year to date um we did some cleaning with that because if you look year to date 68 we had utilized 768. So we used our
projections to add in that additional although that it was 1.8 and that could have been my mistake at one of those 1:00 in the mornings. There could have been a key mistake there. But if we look at the projections of what we had at the
end of February and then what we have here for the million 100 and then with one of those positions that's going to be proposed that position will be funded through the grant. Am I correct Dr.
Spike? So one of those will be grant funded while the other position is going to be locally funded. So if you look at that million one that's our locally funded sub fund and that is 6450 that sub fund is
locally funded and the 5350 is the grant funding this this year is the previous year on that line item we budget a million two we're budgeting a million one even though we're going to have additional
teachers so that's why I was bringing it to your attention to make sure that if we spread those dollars somewhere else or if we're in good shape based on year-to- date dollars. Is that what you're saying? Okay. Okay. All right. Okay. Capital
outlay. We go we're going in other contracted services 17 million. And if you look at building improvements, um we just going to put a a guard rail in place at $4 million.
in case Esser comes back and they say, "Hey, we're not going to allow you all to we're not going to use your uh proposal for the 4 million that we already have in ESSER." Uh so that's just the guardrail that we're putting there.
Um and the 300,000 that's in six in the call center 6330 that is education foundation for liberty uh stage and we're going to get
it outfitted for our productions that we're having our districtwide production. So education foundation uh funds are going there for that. So if you go to 82330 that's education you see debt services we had that discussion that was
the amaresco payment we just haven't gotten the call centers to put that in yet so we're just holding it there in ear marking that uh on the amaresco. So for this for 141 we're going to go into fund balance about $8.6 million.
Our ending fund balance, our estimated ending fund balance is at 40 million and we going in about 8 million which will still give us $32 million in fund balance and doing all this stuff right here. So now let's talk about capital.
Can I break that capital out for you all? Is it okay? Sure. Let me break. Let me let me break. Well, and and also look year one when last year you all we were with our strategic plan uh expansion in the north area for a high for for the
high school that in this strategic plan in this these activities that was not completed. We had four activities that were in red uh or that are in red. Teacher salaries we can complete that one. So, we'll check that one off for teacher salaries. Literacy stations still not
complete. I I'm not sure where we are on literacy stations. And then algebra one, middle school implementation for 10,000. So, that the only one that we will know
that we will achieve from year one strategic plan will be the teacher salary increase to 50k. We actually exceeded it. So that would will be green instead of yellow literary stations and algebra one. We got to figure out that and still have the conversation about
expansion in the north area for high school. Okay. Then if you look at education foundation that's breakdown the work team uh share liberty technology stage renovation at $300,000. Leap up for literacy mobile bus. So it's kind of our library on wheels at 80,000.
High school STEM innovation center 100,000. say something good assemblies and then I will be putting on likewise in addition to that. So there'll be 5 thou 500 and 3,000. Okay. The next thing we
have year two these are all the things most of the things in strategic plan for this this most recent one you all most of we we're we're funding in this in this but in in this either it's going to come out of 142 or majority of it's
coming out of 141 but there there we have for prek transportation our pre-k transportation uh we let the pre we let prek students is at our high pri which which schools we're going to let them let prek be picking up prek Alexander
Lincoln Isaac Lane okay Alexander Lincoln Isaac Lane prek will be provide prek kindergarten will be provided transportation that was our strategic plan that's right so literacy magnetic reading you all saw that I gave you an example so that you
all know that's a 142 portrait of a graduate we're going to talk about that in one of our work sessions but these are all of the things that we discussed back in early this part of this year in the strategic plan. They said we got so
what didn't get funded transportation um technology and there are really two yeah those are the two that are two we just want to know some clarity on some things. Uh I think we ch we changed the
technology strategies because it I think we had one to one at what $8 million. Uh so we changed that u strategy but we just got to get some more clarity around those two and I think I don't think it'll be a problem. Priority schools you know we discussed
going to 120 our 120 contracts be moving to reading tutors. So that's in the priority. That amount is to be determined. However we still budgeted in this it's in this budget. Uh but we we'll get those numbers as well because some of them are on 142 but we did put
some at 141 as well capital improvement uh as you see 21 million with the breakdown of the 4 million but here you'll have what we're requesting this year what we're paying for this year in
capital improvement hub city central complex 8 million 5 million central office we have some roofs we have some bleachers at Northeast bleachers and basketball go repair some furniture at Thema Barker Lincoln northeast
uh football stadium park lot at Southside and then I got a drainage in here. I did have a picture of this I share with you all the drainage that Dr. Chantler provided for us that we this is on the football field that we got to get something if a child falls in this uh we
going to have problems. So we have that in this budget. Concrete walk at South Elementary. We have floors um at Lane and Arlington Rose Hill. So these are all the
capital that's within this 21 million. If you look at the sheet that I put in the back of your folder, it was uh capital expenditure sheet. Since 2020, we have spent
I think I got the wrong one. I have the wrong one. Look at that last that total. What's What's that to 64? This school board has been 64. Not the county. This is school system side. $64 million in capital. So that tells you the commitment that
we're trying to get there, but 64 million in this uh right here uh for capital and then well let's add this 21. You can add this 21 to it. So 80 some Mr. Chairman. Yes sir. How much is Pope
costing? I believe it's 48. 40 and and we spent 64 plus 21. So for education capital, let me get let me give you something even better. For education capital, we we're putting buses in 177 and we're also going to put
fuses in there. And you know, my parents taught me, you know, when they give me money when I was young and even old, people give you money, you buy what you need and you get a change back, right? We're going to give change back.
So, we've bought buses and we'll pay for fuses. The county gave us. We have $51,554 left. We'll give that back to them if they want to give it back to us and tell us we need to do XYZ. But we have spent what they get what we wanted.
They took care of it for us. And so, um, that's what we have on the 177 school letters. I sent the letters to you all on what was approved for all the schools. And we're going to draw again on fund balance. I shared that with you
all. And that's the budget. Oh, let me let me share one more thing. I I will be speaking with the commission on our east uh capital project and and and the budget committee next Tuesday
and I will be presenting the the plans uh around what that cost and what that looks like and figuring out how do we prioritize this? what do we do next steps in moving forward? Once they give me directions, I'll come back to the board and and share and then we can kind
of have a discussion on kind of what next steps. But give me the due diligence to go to uh the budget committee, present this to them and see how they want to prioritize this. That is your FY26 budget. Mr. Chairman, one question on the capital outlay in uh
76100. There are several TBDs on here, but is those TBDs are anticipated to still stay within that $21 million number. Okay. Dr. Watkins would not let us go out of it. Trust me. I know Jason tired of it. Dr. Kelly tired of it, but I'm tired of it. So, she not going to let us go out
of it. But, Mr. Chairman, let me uh a couple statements concerning uh additional investments. And two of them that uh uh really adant about is that early childhood uh especially in addition to that
transportation um Mr. Cardi you and I talk about u prek uh almost monthly but and we don't have to do what we always done uh because we're providing prek transportation to those schools in uh in the city. So, I
think this is a really good budget and we done some things that's been challenging us. So, I think we stepped up and for spayed we also got the case managers that we talked about. All right. They're still in there. We just got to advertise. We just had put it out there. So, I had to make sure I show you that. Awesome.
I guess with that, Mr. Chairman, I'll make a motion that we approve the FY26 fund 141, 142, 143, and 177 as presented. Second. Second. All in favor say yes. Yes. Yes. Motion passes.
All right. Also the on vacation. Yeah. On the next I have a motion to approve the healthy 26 differential pay plan. So I just shared that with you all. It was within the pro and this is the document right here but I just shared the differentiated that was the hard to
staff those um hard to staff schools the bonuses for our special education teachers and also speech pathologist. So that's our hard differentiated pay plan for the FY 26 budget. Mr. Chairman, I'll make a motion
to approve the FY26 different uh differentiating pay plan is presented. Second. All in favor say I. I. Post say no. Motion passes. The next we'll be talking about is the approval of the
resolution for Jackson Madison Jackson Museum School Charter. JMS JMC. I'm sorry. I'll get it straight. Uh I believe Dr. Littleles, are you going to speak with us so we can ask you questions? First of all, thank you so much for
being willing to ask some answer some questions and concerns that the board might have today. U when you spoke last time, you made a comment about when charter schools go into districts, normally the academic grades of the
district goes up. I agree with that. I do. Typically, normally that happens. Back in, I believe, 2016, the department, the Tennessee Department of Education did a uh three-year study. They took 28 charter schools going into districts across the United States and
they tracked them for about three years. In that time, 25 of those charter schools, I mean, 25 of those districts, their academics went up. And you know, I thought about that a lot. And for that to happen, and I want
to see if you agree that the charter school coming into the district would have to have a higher degree of acade academics so that the public school would increase theirs basically competition. I mean, do you
think it's a fair statement? I think that's probably a fair statement. Like most things, there's probably more than one variable that that causes that. It also depends on the region and probably some other factors. But I do think the competitive piece of that um does play a
part in that. Um I think too when we start thinking in terms of families having choices, we tend to bring our our best agame. I also like to think um in the best case scenarios that those were also districts that had a partnership.
And I think um my desire, our desire to have a collaboration within the school district is not just based on an altruistic um good-hearted. I mean, I like to think we're good-hearted, but it's also because s um the evidence
suggests that when there's a partnership between a local school district and a high quality or high performing charter school that um it has a positive benefit for both sides. Um and it also of course in the end we have the same mission
right which is we want to provide the best education we can for for families and for students. Yes ma'am. Thank you. Bear with me for just a second and let me give you a little background on myself. We back in 2022 when I ran for school board. One of the reason I ran, I
was looking at the state court uh scorecard for our district and I saw several schools that in um ELA were in single digits in proficiency and I just couldn't understand that. Here we are 2022 and we got over 90% of our kids in
some schools who cannot read on a grade level. I've asked this question many time to people I've talked to and and that is when you was in a third grade if you could not read on your grade level where you be where you're at today in your in your professional career and I
think we all know that answer and so I started doing some research and I kind of reverted back to I'm not an educator. I never said I was but I'm a business owner and so we bid a lot of jobs a lot of things. We lose a lot of bids. If I start losing bids to one particular
company more than a couple times, I'm going to dig and find out what that company's doing better than I am so I can mimic my company after them and start beating them in bids. So that's basically what I did. I I located the five top schools, public schools at that
time in Tennessee. The top school was in Hendersonville. The principal was a Mr. Frank. I called him and uh he had 96% in ELA and 94% in math which is absolutely unbelievable. And I asked him how did you get there? He said well to be
truthful we are a school of choice. So if you if a student want to come to our school they got to take a test. If they does if they don't score 65% or higher on both they don't get in. I said well that's a fair concept but you still went from 65 to 98 is pretty good. But then I
said, "Sir, don't you have a I mean in your school K to 12?" He said, "Yeah." I said, "So, do you give your first graders test?" He said, 'Absolutely not. They don't know anything. I said, 'Well, how how do you get them prepared for a rigor rigorous curriculum? Apparently, you have to get to 98%. He said, "Well,
we use tree phonics." I said, "Okay, uh, what's phonics? What's true phonics? I want to hear from him." He said, "Of course, it's a blending and sounding of letters to make words." And then I and at that time third grade detention test was going on and that was a big topic. I said, "How do you feel about the third grade detention test?" He laughed and
said, "My second graders capacity is not a problem." As you saw today, I mean, we've spent $860,000 to get magnetic reading into our district. uh when I went through your application, I mean it's it's a few things in here that I do have concerns, but I just want to talk about this is
that you know it and I understand CKLA and also let's talk about CKLA for a second. When I started doing research on CKLA, I found was 10 states across the United States that banned CKLA. Um the the best example state of Mississippi uh in 2016 they told revamp
revamp their education on academics and just so happened the other day I saw the governor from Mississippi was on a show I was watching and he said we are making strides but we're also making history they're the number one state in the United States now improving
education actually in ELA they top Tennessee now and it's amazing and that's wonderful. So my question is to you now in You know, I I could talk about CKLA all day. Let me say this first about what we have done. Last year, Dr. King and his staff
implemented, we took six schools as a pilot program, elementary schools. Most of them had single digits in ELA. The first block test that came out out of one classroom was 63%. And that's amazing because there
one class, one school, but now we're getting year in scores coming in. And we are seeing schools that has single digits to having doubledigits increase in ELA. So that's the reason why you saw this budget this next year with Dr. King and his vision.
We're going from preK to 8 mandatory in all our schools. So my with me when I read your application and I saw that you gonna be teaching CKLA which is a state approved curriculum. It is but we have worked so hard in this district. I mean,
the most important thing is our students and we care for them. So, how can I today vote in favor for your school knowing that you're going to be teaching CLA? So, the curricula, those are all really
good points. Um, the curriculum that we've chosen, um, first of all, we wanted to make sure that it's Tennessee state aligned. So that's one of the things that um you know we were making sure that that that's that's part of it. Um the the
criteria that we were using when we were choosing those um those pieces, a lot of it also had to do with we wanted things that were aligned with projectbased learning because that's going to be a big part of our model. um as a former literacy specialist and as a principal
of a prek through fifth grade um where we were able to increase our literacy scores dramatically. Um we were in the bottom 5% of the state the first year that I got there and after two years we were average. I always say you don't normally celebrate average but if you
were in the bottom 5% you definitely celebrate um um average. So when I think in terms of literacy and you'll notice um on that chart, so there's a page limit first of all for the applications. Um you may not
think that since there's now 300 of them, but they used to be even longer. Um we have layers of literacy programs that we plan to use. You were talking about phonics like so we had great success with Heggerty. Um especially in our pre our preK through two. Well,
we're not starting with preK here, but where I was before preK through two, we used um a lot of the phonics as well. Um so the part with the CKLA is that it also has the projectbased component. Um but we also use the guided reading
pieces. That's as you start to get into the older grades. So I think what what I would say and I wasn't aware did you use the word band? Did you say it was banned? I'm not sure. It's either banned or they took they the bucket the state
gives us for curriculum. They took it they took CKLA out of that bucket which it's my mission to get it done in Tennessee but it's not done yet. Okay. I was not aware of that. Um, and like I said, as a former English teacher, former literacy specialist. So,
so those things would obviously uh matter quite a bit. If the evidence on a piece of curriculum has changed since we started researching it, we are definitely open-minded enough to also look at that and say, "Okay, maybe this is not the route that we need to go."
the the big thing for our our entire school, the Jackson Museum School and the the the board that that we've proposed is the only thing that's really set in stone is our mission and our vision. And those are things that we don't ethically want to change. But how
we get there, um I'm a I'm a I'm known as a research geek. So, um, if the research starts to indicate that, hey, this is not a product that you need to use anymore, then we will definitely look at that and we will evaluate something else. I don't have a problem
with that at all. Thank you so much. You know, and like I said earlier, one thing I would put this board up against any board in state Tennessee, and I really mean that. I mean, we have four-hour work sessions. We have committee meetings. We we we have got hundreds and hundreds of hours of training where you
only have to have seven a year. We love our kids. Today, I don't know what's going to happen, but with me, I've got a vote on what's in this application. And if something is if it does go negative today for you, I I truly hope you listen to what I said also with if if they may
have questions, I may not. I don't know. Sure. and come back with your appeal and change some things because you know like I said before we have worked so hard to get to where we're at today. Thank you for your time. Anybody any questions? Mr. Chairman. Yes, sir. Dr. Little, I do
have just a couple of things here that weren't addressed or were addressed partially meets the standard. What What are your transportation uh goals here? I know that you said that was one of the things that you partially meant. So, transportation
and that's definitely um a conversation that we've also had lengthy conversations within our board as well. Originally in the application, I did have transportation in there. So, one of the things that has been really interesting about the charter
application, and I don't know how much the the board knows about the the changes that were made in the charter application in October of 2024. So, when they changed the budget and you had to take out anticipated grants, which
charter schools typically um that's how you get started. So, your year zero and one especially, but you can al it can also go up to year five. So when I was able to have those anticipated grants in there, that freed up the money for us to have transportation and I have fought
very hard for the fact that we need to have transportation. I want to have transportation. Um we do have in the budget what we were able to leave in the very conservative budget that you have in front of you, which is again we were told we had to take out anticipated
grants. That's so unrealistic. I'll just be honest because on from a state level that's also um it's not realistic for the charter school world. They know that we're going to have those grants from the state to get started. But when we can't put it in a budget application for
you to look at, it looks like well they don't have they don't have the money. I mean how are they going to do this? We have it's almost more like a budget exercise where we have to show hey we can make it on as little money as possible. So part of that decision for
the application was to take transportation out. One of the top priorities that we have when those anticipated and pending grants do come in and we have to redo our budget is and I've already talked to my board about our proposed board about this. I do want
to be able to add transportation. Um location is going to be very important and um I want it to be accessible to all students who want to come. Thank you. that that that kind of covered most of the transportation and I can understand that but it's kind of like borrowing money when you don't have any credit.
You don't know where to start. You know, you've got to start somewhere. Um what about a location, a building, facility? Have y'all have you looked into that or got any feelers out on on where you even talking about being Oh, yes. Yes. Um in fact, um and I realize the
application is really long, but if you have any free reading time, there's a whole section about the facilities. We've done a lot of work on facilities. Um I think what in fact what I told the interview committee was that we probably spent more time on facilities and
special education services um and figuring those things out than anything. So facilities um we cannot sign a lease unless we're authorized. So that's one thing. So I can't put in the application for sure this is where we will be. So it's kind of a catch 22. But what the
application wants us to or the state encourages us to do is to have at least three viable places if not more. So we did work with Mr. Chris Alexander who um if you're not familiar with him, he knows quite a bit about residential and
commercial um properties and he's the one that took us to the places that we finally the the three locations that we have um in the thing. Right. And the first one is the one I'll be honest that's the that's the one on Campbell Street that I really really want mostly
because of location. I I think it's very important to have a neighborhood school. I I would love it if kids could walk to school. I know that makes me sound old, but um we do still want a transportation, but we do want to be a neighborhood school. So the the Campbell
Street location is the probably my my first choice. I will tell you that um Mr. Mike I is it Mike Neely? I may have his last name wrong. Anyway, the the the lease they have um they're very
interested in us taking that property. Um they have offered 75 70 to 75% below market value for the lease. They said they will do a lease purchase if we want. They said they will do lease credit if we do any renovations. It's actually because of a flood that they
had uh in insurance remodeling it. It's about movein ready to be honest. The only downside for us is um it's about 22,000 square feet. So when I'm projecting for five years, unless we do
a lease purchase, we may grow out of that best case scenario. The second place that we've talked to um is uh Sacred Heart, uh the Hunt Properties. um that place is movein ready the so for most people they would say why don't you
just use that it's on the north side of town I think without transportation the the students that we're really hoping to serve that will be difficult for them to get there so that is a viable spot the third one and I've had some people to
say if you're a creative person you would take this one is the old Sears building it's 80,000 square feet we would not grow out of it. Um my understanding is that there are some city plans to renovate a lot of the um mall area and so the old Sears building
could actually be separated sort of. Um but it's been gutted and so you would have to do a complete buildout. Um, so those are the three properties and we've we've actually had great reception from all three parties about whether or not
we will take their space take those spaces. So we feel really good. Um, our goal if if authorized is within 90 days to sign a lease. Um, we do have and I I did send this out. someone had asked the question and so anytime I've gotten an
individual question, I've tried to also create an email that I sent to Miss Spurgeon and Dr. Williams to make sure that you all got the same information about startup grants. We have pending grants right now. They're called
pending, meaning if authorized, we get them. Um not like we may get them, we may not. They're pending. So, one of them is the facilities grant. The only thing with the facilities grant from Tennessee is that you do not know for
sure how much it's going to be. They come in and help evaluate that. Um, did you, excuse me, did you put all that in the application that you had the pending grants? We put right what we are able to put. So, the only one the state of Tennessee will let you put for sure like
actually on the budget template is the CSP one. The others are in the narrative. we talk about them. But so like even um the um new schools venture fund um you know I've received I have an
email that basically says we just need to know what the vote is and then so I've got half a million dollars sitting there for year zero um in two other grants that are that are sort of affiliated with the state not to mention
the CSP and the facilities grant. So, we're we're in a good situation. It also helps that I'm a um a grant writer. So, that's in our favor. Thank you. And I I could have a million other questions
from safety and security to geographic, but like I said, I just uh we spent a great deal of time on these wonderful shelter codes. I know way more about inspections and shelter codes than I ever thought that I would. um the Jackson City inspector and I'm sorry
with his name in front of me. I'm horrible with names was very informative. Um and also Levelvelfield Partners who I do talk about in the application. Levelfield Partners is an organization that specializes um in
facilities acquisitions um for charter schools and a lot of times it's retired architects, inspectors, people like that that come in and they help you uh make sure that you're meeting code and inspections and they help you work with
the city officials. So they have partnered with us. Um and they have also found tea will cover shelter codes. Um the only problem they don't they don't reject anybody but it's taken about two
to three years to get it. So we've definitely done a lot of work with about about inspections and stuff as well. Thank you. You have questions? Yes, ma'am. Dr. Yes, ma'am. I'm from district
6 one uh the east Jackson area. Excuse me. East Jackson area. Yes, ma'am. And I'm very concerned. I I first of all like to ask you what children is it that you stated just a few minutes ago that you
would like to be served. We're hoping to serve any families who are wanting an additional choice. So, one of the things that when we were doing our community surveys and focus groups and uh collecting, you know, stuff from social
media is that we're aware that um in Jackson Madison, there's some really really great schools, especially the um um the magnet schools, but they have really long waiting lists. or at least this was the consensus that we keep
being told is that the the schools that a lot of the families really want are long waiting lists. Um some of the families cannot afford to go to a private school. So you know our understanding in working in the communities is that those students
wherever they may live within Madison uh Jackson Madison of course are welcome to come. So the one one myth about charter schools is the fact that some people think that you can choose which students are coming. You we're a public school.
We can't choose which which kids are coming any more than say Pope can. Um if they come and sign up, we accept them. Um whether they have IEPs, whether they are high poverty, whether they're uh wealthy, whether they're it does if
they're, you know, English as a second language, it doesn't matter. So, um, our our goal is to be in an area that is, um, under reform and and has some upcoming, um, structures, I guess you could say, and and my to my
understanding and to your point, I know that there's a lot of work that's being done on um, the east side of Jackson, and we want to be part of a positive solution if we can be. Okay. So, with you saying that,
um, as a, uh, citizen of East Jackson, how many residents in my community, uh, I understand you've had Zoom calls with some community people? Yes, ma'am. But how many neighborhoods has your organization for
your museum school have you been in to communicate with parents and residents of this area to ask them and to see what the needs are of this community that's being reformed that you want to place a school in. And if you say it's going to be a sort of neighborhood school, it
wouldn't get children I would think out north if they're going to be walking because they wouldn't be able to walk that far. Right. So, we're looking at the children in this particular area. Is that correct? And how many neighborhoods have you been in and spoke with them with the uh citizens and ask them about
these uh concerns about this school and if this is something that they want? Because I've got a lot of phone calls and you haven't spoken to anyone and their concern about this school and what it's doing for our public schools that we love and that we have so many choices
and they don't know anything about it. Well, I I find that unfortunate. Of course, we've not actually knocked on individual doors. Um, we can certainly put that on our to-do list. Um, but we've actually been in almost all of the
neighborhoods as far as trying to meet in different organizations. We've done a lot of um a lot of our focus has also been in hightra areas where there's basically a diversity of people. I don't actually ask them what their address is.
Um, we have 25% of our intent to enroll um that are coming through on social media. So, we do get a lot of social media interaction, but we did the focus group at the uh Madison County Library. Um, we have done canvasing in the
columns area um at the Walmart area. We have um I know when we were actually looking for buildings, of course, we've been in multiple neighborhoods. So, pretty much I don't meet a stranger. Anyone who uh has wanted to talk to me,
I definitely talked to, but as far as setting up, we're willing to go. In fact, I was just recently invited to Cars for a Cause, so we were we were there. Um, anything that we're invited to or we find out about, we go to. We're
willing to be in any neighborhood. Thank you. Yes, ma'am. Any other questions? Mr. Chairman. Yes, sir. Uh, Dr. Little. Yes, sir. You're familiar with the specific um notes on the areas that did not meet
or exceed? I actually have not received those. I only know about the number because of what was in the Jackson Sun. I was told I would receive those tonight, the notes and where the four partially met. I don't actually don't know what those are. And of course, we
do want those because we want to be able to learn and improve what whatever they think that um the interview committee found is being partially met. So to be broad uh because there are a lot of notes but uh the information that
I have in front of me involves academic plan and design for special populations, operations plan and capacity for personnel, human capital, um operations plan and capacity for professional development and operations
plan and capacity for transportation. So, I don't know if I can ask this, but if you're denied tonight, you will appeal. Yes. Okay. And you've indicated flexibility on everything except your core mission. That's correct. Okay. Even
to the point of particular curriculum, right? as the chairman talked about as long as it so as a certified qualified teacher myself it is important that that curriculum still be aligned with Tennessee state standards yes has to be
right in uh Jackson Madison County obviously and someone can correct me if I'm wrong it's been a been a minute but third grade and up is where statemandated testing begins we do benchmark testing on our second grade
students. It gives us a projection of where they're going to land when they get to third grade. Uh with your first few years of opening being K through two, the first year. The first year only. Remind me what the second year would be expansion to. So right,
we've accept we have gone with a slow growth model which means each year we'll add a grade uh until we get to sixth grade. we believe we'll be at full capacity um when we have a hundred students per grade. So, we'll start with K2 and we do plan to participate in that
second grade um test to see where they will be. Um, I'm a little bit competitive myself and as I've said, um, as a former preK through fifth grade principal who had some success with
raising scores, um, you know, I want our students to take the achievement test. I want to be able to show the growth that they're that they're going to have. Um, I'm sorry, but as far as so without actual specific notes, those are pretty
broad categories. Of course, I've already been asked a question about transportation. We knew we would get asked about transportation and I oh, I cringed when we had to take it out of that application budget. Um, but as far as special education, now I have had some questions about that. Um, and we've
actually been told that we're pretty strong in special education um, services and being able to provide those, but I do realize that it's a little thinking outside of the box in that we want to be able to use there's two different things
that you can do. And one of them is you can contract services of course with Jackson Madison County um, school system and then we pay like a percent uh, back to you to do that. Um, typically those conversations do not occur unless you're actually authorized. So, in the
application, a lot of charter schools use something like Project Play. Project play is a third-party contractor that has um certified uh a wide range of special ed, special population um
teachers. So, you don't have to hire full-time the full array of the services. So based on the students who actually show up that year, whatever their IEPs are, we can contract those
specific um teachers and they come into the school and provide that. And it's pretty flexible so that next year if we don't need OTM PT, we don't we don't have to contract that with them. Maybe we need speech next year, so we contract
speech. I know that's not the normal um that's not the normal model that most people have, but that's actually a pretty flexible way to be able to offer any type of special education service that you may need. It provides the
u clerical support behind all the documentation that's required. Yes. um you're very well verssed on charter schools. So while you will
pull some of our students from other of our public schools, they remain public school students. Is that correct? That's correct. Um one of the myths and I I I just want to keep saying um I'm a public school teacher. This is a public school. Charter schools fall under the public
school umbrella. So, for example, if a student from Jackson Madison County School System leaves your school and goes to Madina, those public funds go to Madina. Um, if they come back from Madina to Jackson Madison County School System, those public funds come with
them. It is no different with Jackson Museum School with a charter a free public charter school. Public funds follow public students. Of course, the cost of educating that student goes with them as well. Is it um I'm sorry. No, no, you're good.
You're good. You're good. So, the And I could read all of this. I don't think I have to. Um but on appeal, you'll address these. You're required to address these. Yes. Or upon starting the
process of a charter agreement, you will need to address these. Uh, so I'm again I'm a competitive kind of person. I like to get an A. So I, in fact, you can ask Dr. Williams. I had already asked for
the notes because we wanted to go ahead and start working on what are those four areas that that they believe that we did not that that were partial meet. I wanted a perfect score. So that's what we're going for. So regardless of the vote tonight, when I get those, that
will be our next board meeting. Does it make a difference to you if you address them on appeal or address them in a charter uh agreement process? Does it it does and and I'm going to be really sometimes I've been told I'm a little too honest
for my own good. We've worked really really hard honestly to try and get a local authorization even to the point that some people in other places have said why are you wasting your time? you can't
get that. And I I just disagree. I think that that indicates a willingness and a partnership on our part to want to be a part of the district, to want to be a part of Dr. King's vision to I just think it says so much. And so if the
board votes yes tonight, to me that says you're you're returning that willingness to partner as well. You want to be a part of our portfolio with the added responsibility of making it work. Yes, definitely because it falls on you.
It does. In fact, that speaks to the question that someone had asked me. They were like, "Okay, if we do this like are the startup funds, does that come from Jackson Madison County School System?" It does not. And if I fail to or if we
fail to raise those for some reason, um that cost you nothing. That's that's on us. Um the one good and bad thing about charter schools with the instant accountability um is that if we fail to make it, they close us pretty
fast. There's no waiting. So your authorization would only mean that, hey, we see a strong application. It's not perfect. you have some things you need to work on. You need to do this, but we're willing to partner with you. That's my hope.
Thank you, Mr. Chair, because she just piqu my interest. Where else have you tried to partner? Because you mentioned we strive to get local authorizations. Oh, no. No. This is the only place I've ever Are you talking about to try to start a charter school? Yes, ma'am. I
think that's what you said. We strive for local authorizations. The point people say, "Why do you What's the point?" we as in the board. It's no longer just So that's another question. Some some people have asked about Jean Little. It's not just this is not just
Gan Little. I just happened to be the person who had an idea and saw an opportunity and I've worked in public education for a long time and said, you know, hey, I'm aware and this may be controversial, but the state says charter schools are
coming here. So my thinking was, well, why don't we try to be one of them and let me see if there's any like-minded people who want to do this. I found likeminded people that are from, you know, this community. And I will also say, um, I actually live outside the
community. I have been one of those people that has driven back and forth here and worked, but I am looking at houses. If if you guys authorize me, I'm moving here. You won't get rid of me. Um, not to mention I've even tried to find a house close to the school um in
central and east Jackson where we want to be. So, I'll be part of your district. Another question, Miss Moss. So, you ma'am, you answered one of the questions I was going to ask you is where do you live? I actually have um a little farm
right outside in Wakeley County. I flip houses on the side. I know that sounds crazy. Um, and so I've been flipping that house and it's it's going up for sale on the market probably in about two weeks. But my plan um is to move to
Jackson if authorized. Um, as a principal, I typically I I completely understood what Dr. King was saying about not getting a vacation. When I was a principal, I worked typically 12 to 15 hour days. And I'll do the same thing to to try to found this school as well.
Okay. So, if you're not authorized to start your school here, then you take your property off the market, I'm assuming. No, ma'am. Correct. No. No. I'm I'm flipping that house regardless. Okay. U the other question is what d what drives you to do this?
Spark that made you think, oh, I believe I'll start a charter school in Jackson. Oh, goodness. How long how how much time do we have? Um, so Let me think how to answer that in a concise way. Me personally, the work
that that I'm passionate about doing. Um is I mean I'm my mother was 16 when she had me. Um she dropped out of school, we lived in the projects, that kind of thing. Um I was really lucky though that I had a family that believed that through hard work and education, you can
change your life. And so I I I was able to do that. My mother eventually went back, got her GED and and she actually went back to college or went to college and became a nurse which was her lifelong uh passion um in her 50s. So I
feel very strongly about working with students who may need another person who is saying hey you can change your life. So those are the students I've always worked with. Um the way I actually as someone who's been in public on the
traditional side of public education for 30 years, I actually I won an award in Kentucky for the work that I did at um Car Elementary when we were able to go for two in two years to make that kind of growth. And I think that put me on
the radar. Um, in addition to the uh, equity work that I had done through University of Memphis and my dissertation, I won a fellowship in Tennessee. So, I was the only recipient um, in Tennessee for this Bees fellowship. Um, and Mr. Carter has
definitely let me know. He wanted to know who Bees is. They are not an organization that runs charter charter schools. They are not a charter management. There's there's no corporation behind me. Um they are coaches. They've been around for 20
years. Um and they they help highly qualified educators found charter schools the right way. Their theory was if you can't beat them, join them, but do it the right way. So they train bees
fellows, that's myself, on how to start charter schools. And so in the state of Tennessee, Tennessee has already designated some of these areas where charter schools are going to go. So you connect bees with this state
initiative and you have me because I also worked here. I've lived in the region, that kind of thing. That's the short of it. I could write a book. Mr. Chairman. Yes, sir. Uh really just a couple comments. Uh first, Dr. a little
thank you for the work that you and your team did to put the application together. Also want to thank our review committee for the hard work they put into this. Uh unfortunately I think at this time you guys are kind of at the mercy of a flawed system with the state. The state over the last couple years and you've mentioned it a couple times
already has changed back and forth the their format. They've reduced what you can put in the application. Um, and unfortunately, I mean, when the questions that I think I have personally and that we have as a board come from
some of the missing information from the application, it may or may not had anything to do with y'all not having it. But when we judge and are looking at this, we have the application to look at. Sure. That's how we judged and looked at the application uh from ACE in
the past, and that's how we have this in front of us now. And you know, the state has very clearly wanted to be in the charter business and they want to be in the charter business a lot worse than what the local entities do. And I think at this point, I think there are more
questions because of that process. And I think you will have an opportunity in some way or another to answer those stipulated to answer those questions. Um, but I do think we have a flaw system as a state and that uh any applicant is going to suffer from that until the
state gets their act together in getting this kind of to a point where it can be more clear on what you are really trying to get forward to us because right now we have questions. Sure. And I think again you will have opportunity to one way or another to answer those uh as we
move forward. I appreciate that. I would also um point out and I and I also had mentioned this to um Dr. Williams and Miss Spurgeon, the the 90 and I realize it's a 90minute video. Um I do think that the state also intends for some of
those questions to be answered through the capacity interview and they honestly asked a lot of really pertinent questions. Um, so not just in the application, but also if you were to look also at that that that video and
hopefully, you know, their notes, um, it does they also asked about some of those gaps as well. And so we were able to try to verbally explain them. Um, and this is also why I've tried to make myself so much more available for questions
because I do my personal opinion is that that application especially when they they they took out a lot of the questions, they shrunk the um the size, they also changed the template. There were some changes. So, I'm we we
definitely presented the most information that we could. Um, I can go in the weeds on pretty much anything you ask me about. Um, but yes, to your point, they didn't call me and ask me, but I Yeah, there's a there's some flaws
there, but I do think that the interview committee did their due diligence and they also have a lot of additional information. Anyone else? We're good. Thank you so much. I really appreciate you spending the time and
answering the question. You can tell by this board we really care for our kids. I know you do. And and and thank you for coming today. Thank you. Moving on. Um I'm going to ask Mr. Bill Thomas to read the resolution. The You want me to read the resolution? Is
that is that the plan? Okay. All right. No, th this one's not as long as I didn't think it was. All right. Uh, this resolution resolution denying charter school application submitted by Jackson Museum
School. Whereas pursuant to the Tennessee public chapter public charter schools act of 2002 the act the Jackson Madison County Board of Education board has received a completed charter application from
Jackson Museum school on February 1, 2025 the application whereas the board appointed a review team to assist in reviewing and evaluating the application. Whereas after careful review and evaluation of the
application, the review team's findings based on the standards and parameters provided in the state law and regulations were as follows. Section one, academic plan and design evaluation. And then the rating
uh 1.1 school mission and goals meets or exceeds standard. 1.2 2 academic focus and performance standards meets or exceeds standard. 1.3 Assessments meets or
exceeds standard. 1.4 School calendar and schedule meets or exceeds standard. 1.5 Recruitment and Enrollment meets or exceeds standard. 1.6 Parent and Community Engagement and Support meets
or exceeds standard. 1.7 School Culture and Discipline meets or exceeds standard. 1.8 Special Populations Partially meets standards. 1.9 Conversion Charter School Planning Not
Applicable. Section two, Operations Plan and Capacity Evaluation and Rating. 2.1 Governance meets or exceeds standard. 2.2 Facilities meets or exceeds standard. 2.3 Startup Plan meets
or exceeds standard. 2.4 Personnel/Human Capital Partially meets standard. 2.5 Professional Development Partially meets standard. 2.6 Transportation Partially meets standard.
2.7 Additional Operations meets or exceeds standard. And then 2.8 eight charter management organizations through 2.12 all deal with networks and those were not applicable. Section three financial plan
and capacity evaluation and rating 3.1 operating budget meets or exceeds standard. 3.2 operating budget narrative meets or exceeds standard. 3.3 network financial plan not applicable. And then
section four, portfolio review and performance record was not rated because it was not applicable. Whereas on April 14, 2025, the board received the report from the review team and discussed the application endurance deliberations. The
board identified concerns in several critical areas of the application. Areas which through though partially addressed did not fully meet the board's expectations or the high standards required for approval. Whereas on April 30, 2025
presented to 10 code annotated section 49-13108 the board reviewed and considered the application the Tennessee charter application scoring criteria. the statutory requirements of the act and the concerns raised by board members during the meeting and in prior
discussions. And in the interest of public transparency and a clear understanding of the proposal, the board granted the applicant the opportunity to appear before the board to address unresolved concerns in several critical areas that were only partially met.
concerns which contributed to the reviews team decision to reject the application with stipulations for reconsideration. Now therefore be it resolved that the board finds the public charter application filed by Jackson Museum school partially meets the
standards established by the Tennessee Department of Education and the JMadison County Board of Education. However, additional information and clarifi clarification are needed in key areas to determine whether the proposed charter school is in the best interest of the
Jackson Madison County School System, its students, and the community. Therefore, be it further resolved that the board denies rejects the public charter school application filed by Jackson Museum School with stipulations for
reconsideration in accordance with state law and district policy. The board identifies the following areas requiring clarification, amendment, or supplementation before the application may be reconsidered. Number one, the Jackson Museum School through
its application, capacity interview, and other submissions and discussions failed to provide sufficient evidence to meet or exceed standards established by the Tennessee Department of Education's charter school application scoring criteria in all areas for in all areas
for academic plan and design section one and operations plan and capacity section two. Number two, the academic plan and design for special populations fails to meet or exceed the standards because a special
methods of support for ESL and EL students were mentioned but those methods were not defined in the application. B no process was mentioned for identifying at risk students. C. Although a state requirement for special
population, the ILP- D is not mentioned or defined in the academic section. D. The application also included partial evidence of an understanding of how to meet the needs of students with IEPs included in the
special population subgroup. E. There are limited details within the application on how the school will identify with special need students with special needs or how the school will
provide services that require more than the allocated amount of $1,500 per student provided in the budget. F the reference in the capacity interview for the use of a proposed vendor to provide related services such
as OT, PT, behavior intervention, assisted technology, speech, language for students with disabilities was not clearly defined or strategically outlined for immediate implementation. G. The application
failed to provide details on how students are identified for ESL and gifted. H. The application does not reference the process of identifying, locating, and evaluating potential students with disabilities to meet the
federal child fine legal process. I, the application fails to detail how teachers will be trained to work with students with unique learning needs. J. The application does not clearly define how the continuation of
services will be provided as only generic models, instructional processes, and school plans were discussed regarding a continuum of services for students with disabilities. and K. The application does not provide
compelling evidence on how the school would effectively serve all students, especially at risk students, students with disabilities, ESL students, and gifted learners. Three, the operations plan and capacity
for personnel, human capital fails to meet or exceed the standards because a the CEO, lead founder, principal will serve in numerous roles and responsibilities for the first four to five years, which is concerning with the
detailed list of task assigned to one position, the CEO, founder, principal, and raises concerns about how the school will leverage support to asssure efficiency and task completion with the timeline associated with the startup
plan provided in the application. and B the CEO lead founder principal has additional responsibilities assigned for the first three years including recruiting, hiring, verifying certifications and training personnel
which raises concerns about the success and effectiveness of the school with so many a task assigned to one individual. Five, the operations plan and capacity for professional development fails to meet or exceed standards because
A, the application provides limited details regarding family support as only a research quote was provided. B. The application indicates that the principal, instructional coach, EL coordinator, and mentoring program are
not introduced in year one, which raises concerns on how the school will provide instructional support to teachers and learning support to students with a phasing in of key instructional support positions in year 1 through
five. C. The application is inconsistent with the number of professional development days offered as professional learning days throughout the year listed one per quarter. However, professional development plan shows semester 1 1.5
days and semester 2 2.5 days. Five, the operations plan and capacity for transportation fails to meet or exceed the standards because a while the school does not plan to offer transportation for daily attendance, it
will provide transportation for students with IEPs and 504s as indicated in the application. However, the application lists a budget of only $50,000 to purchase a used bus
and $4,000 for fuel and maintenance, which is not realistic, especially considering the standards require that used buses aged out, age out, and special education buses likely will require additional modification expenses such as ramps,
etc. B. No explanations were offered in the application or capacity interview to account for adjusting the transportation budget if current allocations do not cover the transportation cost or how families without transportation may have
an opportunity to attend the school. In accordance with 10 code annotated section 49-3108 and the rules of the state board of education, the applicant shall have 30 calendar days from the receipt of the
board's decision to deny the application to submit an amended application to correct the initial applications deficiencies. Adopted and approved this 30th day of April, 2025. Thank you, sir. Uh to make it clear,
please correct me if I'm wrong, our vote today, if we vote yes, we're basically saying that we are denying JCS today. If we vote no, we are saying that we approve the application. Yeah. Is that
correct? Right. Well, if if the Well, okay. We vote we vote on a resolution. Okay. If if the motion is to approve the resolution denying the charter school application, Gotcha. Then Jackson Museum School will have 30
days to submit an amended application to the board. The review team would have 60 days and the board would have 60 days to act on that amended application. So it's not it doesn't get to the appeal stage at that point.
That's it comes back to the board. And then if after the second time, after the second denial, if the board denies it again, then they have the right to appeal to the state charter school commission.
Be clear on that. Clear as mud. Yes. What we need is a motion. Mr. Chairman, I make a motion to approve the resolution denying the charter school application stipulations uh with with the stipulations for
um reconsideration. Second. Have a second. Okay. Any other discussion? We're good. M do a roll call. Walden. Yes.
Just stop for a second. I am correct. Right. We are Yes. Shane. Yes. Yes. Andre Darnell. Yes. G. Yes. Gall.
No. James Johnson. Yes. Andrew Gmore. Yes. Yes. Motion passes. Anything else? You got any
comments? I have a motion to adjourn. I make a motion we second.